Folding bracket



pril 2l, 1936. R, w, SWANiSON 2,038,143

FOLDING BRACKET Filed Oct. 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor plil 2l,i936. R W. SWANSON 2,038,143

' I FoLDNG BRACKET Filed Oct. l5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vir, mi Kal/@Inventor Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

mary object to provide a bracket of this char.

acter comprising novel means for locking said bracket in open oroperative position.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a folding bracket of theaforementioned character which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use,compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views7 and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a wall bracket constructed inaccordance with the present invention, showing the same in unfolded oroperative position.

Figure 2 is a View in front elevation of the invention.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view, showing the bracket in folded orinoperative position.

Figure 5 is a View in cross section through the lock, takensubstantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, showing the brace asit approaches operative position.

Figure 'lis a perspective view of the upper end portion of thestationary member.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the present invention which has been illustratedlcomprisesa stationary -member I of angle iron having a plurality of holes oropenings 2 therein for the passage of securing elements for mountingsaid member I on a Wall or other support. The stationary member Iincludes a thickened, offset upper end portion 3 having formed therein astep or recess 4.

Pivotally mounted, as at 5, on the portion 3 of the member I is aswinging member 6 which is also of angle iron. The member 6 is providedwith a plurality of openings (not shown) for the passage of securingelements for mounting a table I or the like thereon.

Extending between the free ends of the members I and 6 is a brace whichis designated generally by the reference numeral 8, said bracecomprising a pair of links or sections 9 and I9 Which are pivotallyconnected, at their outer ends, to said members I and 6, as at II. Theinner end portions of the 4brace sections 9 and I0 overlap and arepivotally connected, as at I2.

The inner end portion of the brace section 9 has formed integrallytherewith an angular flange I3 which is engageable With the section I0in a manner to provide a stop for limiting the swinging movement of thesections 9 and I0 relative to each other toward operative position.Formed integrally with the angular flange I3 is a pair of ears I4between which a hook or latch I5 is pivotally mounted, said hook orlatch being yieldingly urged toward operative or locking position by aspring I6. A portion of one edge of the brace section Ill issubstantially beveled or rounded, as at I'I, (see Figure 5) in a mannerto cause the latch I5 to ride over said member I 0 when the bracket isunfolded or opened. To facilitate this movement the hooked end of thelatch I5 is substantially beveled or rounded, as at I8. The oppositeedge of the section I0 has formed integrally therewith a beveled lip I9with which the latch I5 is engageable for releasably locking the brace 8in unfolded position.

It is thought that the operation of the bracket will be readily apparentfrom a consideration of the foregoing. To open the bracket, the member 6is, of course, swung upwardly to a position substantially .at rightangles to the member I, thus unfolding the brace 8. When the sections 9and I0 of the brace 8 reach substantially the position shown in Figure 6of the drawings, the latch I5 engages the beveled portion I1 of thesection I9 and rides thereover. Then, when the brace 8 reachessubstantially its unfolded position the latch I5, under impulsion by thespring I6, engages under the beveled lip I9 and the bracket is thuspositively locked in open position. To fold the bracket it is onlynecessary to disengage the latch I 5 from the beveled lip I9 against thetension of the spring I6, after which the sections 9 and I0 may bebroken or swung inwardly for permitting the member 6 to swing downwardlyto the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The thickened portion3 of the stationary member I materially strengthens or reinforces thebracket at a point which is usually subjected to severe strain.

It is believed that the many advantages of a folding bracket constructedin accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, andalthough a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may beresorted to Which will fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed is:-

A brace including a. pair of sections pivotally connected at one endand, when unfolded, extending in overlapping relation toy each other, abevlO eled lip on the inner end portion of one oaf the sections, anangular flange on the inner end portion of the other of said sections,said angular ange being engageable with said one section for limitingthe movement of the sections toward unfolded position, ears projectingfrom the flange, and a spring actuated latch pivotally mounted betweenthe ears and operatively engageable with the beveled lip for releasablylocking the sections in unfolded position.

- RALPH W. SWANSON.

